Ball bounce game using electromagnetic beams

Abstract

The present invention is a computerized game device or game playing method for use with objects such as balls and a generally planar surface. The game device may comprise at least two electromagnetic beam transmitters arranged to emit electromagnetic beams and at least two corresponding electromagnetic beam receivers generating signals. The game device further comprises a support for the transmitters and receivers having a surface shaped to rest stably against the planar surface, the support positioning each transmitter to emit its electromagnetic beam parallel to the other beams and parallel to the planar surface, the support positioning each receiver to receive one of the electromagnetic beams, and the support shaped to permit the objects to pass through the beams and to strike the planar surface without striking the support. The game device further comprises a game computer arranged to receive signals from the receivers and programmed to implement at least one game where performance is judged by analysis of the signals received from the receivers.

1. A game device for use with objects and a generally planar surface, comprising:
 at least two electromagnetic beam transmitters arranged to emit electromagnetic beams and at least two corresponding electromagnetic beam receivers generating signals; 
 a support for the transmitters and receivers having a surface shaped to rest stably against the planar surface, the support positioning each transmitter to emit its electromagnetic beam parallel to the other beams and parallel to the planar surface, the support positioning each receiver to receive one of the electromagnetic beams, and the support shaped to permit the objects to pass through the beams and to strike the planar surface without striking the support; and 
 a game computer arranged to receive signals from the receivers and programmed to implement at least one game where performance is judged by analysis of the signals received from the receivers. 
 
   
   
     2. A game in accordance with  claim 1  wherein:
 the beam transmitters are infrared light emitting diodes and the receivers are infrared receivers. 
 
   
   
     3. A game in accordance with  claim 1  wherein:
 the game computer causes the beam transmitters to generate beams modulated or encoded with unique signals, and the game computer demodulates or decodes the signals produced by the beam receivers to determine the presence or absence of the unique signals in the received beam signals. 
 
   
   
     4. A game in accordance with  claim 1  which further includes:
 a speaker connected to the game computer and programs within the game computer that generate sound signals and present the sound signals to the speaker. 
 
   
   
     5. A game in accordance with  claim 4  wherein
 the programs that generate sound include programming steps for generating intelligible speech. 
 
   
   
     6. A game in accordance with  claim 5  wherein
 the programming steps that generate intelligible speech are able to report scoring of the game. 
 
   
   
     7. A game in accordance with  claim 5  wherein
 the programming steps that generate intelligible speech are able to instruct players on how to play the game and also report the progress and score of the game. 
 
   
   
     8. A game in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the support comprises:
 a transmitter game unit section containing the beam transmitters; 
 a receiver game unit section containing the beam receivers; 
 a connecting arm detachably connecting the two game units together positioned to align the transmitters and receivers; and 
 the game computer is a microcontroller residing within one of the two game unit sections. 
 
   
   
     9. A game in accordance with  claim 8  wherein
 one of the game unit sections contains retractable strings or ribbons that may be stretched to and connected to the other game unit section to indicate to the players the path of the beams. 
 
   
   
     10. A game in accordance with  claim 8  wherein
 the connecting arm contains signal wires that convey signals between the beam transmitters or beam receivers in one game unit section and the game computer in the other game unit section. 
 
   
   
     11. A game in accordance with  claim 8  wherein
 the connecting arm is semicircular in shape. 
 
   
   
     12. A game in accordance with  claim 8  wherein
 the connecting arm includes a hinge that permits it to be folded for convenient storage. 
 
   
   
     13. A game in accordance with  claim 8  wherein
 at least one of the game unit sections contains on its upper surface illuminable light emitting devices aligned with each of the beams and selectively illuminable by the game computer. 
 
   
   
     14. A game playing method wherein one or more game players bounce a ball against a surface comprising:
 projecting at least two electromagnetic, energy-conveying beams generally parallel to each other and generally parallel to and adjacent the surface, positioning the beams such that it is possible for a game player to bounce the ball against the surface in such a manner as to cause the ball to pass through one of the beams; 
 detecting the energy conveyed by the electromagnetic beams from a position beyond where the ball may normally pass through a beam; 
 signaling the cessation of beam energy detection whenever the ball passes through one of the beams; and 
 responding to such signaling by computing from such signaling performance scores for the one or more game players. 
 
   
   
     15. A game playing method in accordance with  claim 14  wherein
 the electromagnetic energy-conveying beams convey infrared energy, such that the beams are invisible. 
 
   
   
     16. A game playing method in accordance with  claim 15  and further comprising
 presenting a visible indication of the beam paths to the game players. 
 
   
   
     17. A game playing method in accordance with  claim 14  wherein
 the electromagnetic beams are modulated or encoded with unique signals, and 
 the detecting step includes demodulating or decoding these signals to determine the presence or absence of the unique signals, the absence of the unique signals being an indication of the cessation of beam energy. 
 
   
   
     18. A game playing method in accordance with  claim 14  further comprising
 generating audio signals indicative of the game performance scores of the one or more game players. 
 
   
   
     19. A game playing method in accordance with  claim 18  wherein
 the generated audio signals include intelligible speech. 
 
   
   
     20. A game playing method in accordance with  claim 19  wherein
 the intelligible speech instructs the one or more players how to play the game in addition to indicating the game performance scores.